Hopefully by now you understand the importance of staying at home. As we embark on week three of quarantine, I’ve heard people say they are starting to feel a little useless, restless, and that they wish they could do more. Please understand that by staying home you are doing a great deal! Protect yourself and protect your neighbor first and foremost!
With that being said, if you’re looking in increase your help from home, here are some tips I’ve compiled:
1. Donate Personal Protective Equipment – Obviously, I know we’ve heard this over and over. But, now would be a perfect time to organize that basement or room in your house you’ve been avoiding since 2009. If you happen to come across any usable items such as masks, gloves, goggles, hairnets, or a hazmat suit you forgot you had, PLEASE donate to your local hospital!
2. Baby Monitors – For all those parents out there! If you have old baby monitors that are collecting dust in your home please consider donating them to your local hospital. We are setting them up in patient rooms so that we can visualize our patients and hear/see alarms sounding without having to go into the room.
3. Sew the Love - If you can thread a piece of string through that tiny needle hole you are already a hero. If you use said needle and thread to create items for healthcare workers you are a legend. And as The Sandlot taught us,"Legends never die." Recent studies show the cloth masks that everyone started making are actually not that helpful at protecting us from breathing in droplets. BUT, scrub caps protect us from the droplets that can land in our hair. If you have the ability to sew, consider looking up scrub cap patterns and donating to your local hospital!
4. Feed the Frontline – What a great movement! But let me tell you, over the last two weeks we have eaten our weight in baked goods, sub sandwiches, and pizza. While we needed these comfort foods as we processed the change in our job requirements, this is now our new normal and if you want to feed us, PLEASE feed us foods that fuel our bodies! Fruit trays, veggie trays, salads, carbonated waters, nut mixes, and protein bars would all be great additions!
5. Crafts for Kids – If you’re homeschooling and looking for a project consider having your kids draw pictures or write notes to health care workers. It makes my day when I see letters in our breakroom from the community!
6. Reach out to your healthcare friends – Text, FaceTime, Call, send a carrier pigeon. Just don’t smoke signal; people’s lungs are already having a tough time with Coronavirus. Reach out in whatever way you can! Be patient though in knowing that while it means so much to us, we can’t always respond promptly.
7. Pray – We love Jesus here on this blog, but if that’s not your thing, it’s not your thing. I personally believe in the power of prayer and have asked all my friends and family to pray for me by name and for all healthcare workers. Matthew 18:20 reads, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” There is POWER IN PRAYER TOGETHER!
8. Stay Tuned to Nurse Yourself – Topics Coming Soon:
COVID-19 Without the Noise – breaking down what we know so far
The Face of the Frontline – what it looks like on the ground week to week
Healthy at Home – ways I’m fueling my body, my immune system, and protecting my mental health
Thank you for all your support as we brave this battle together! Head over to my Instagram to connect with me and let me know what topics you want more information on. Remember, you have the power to nurse yourself through this pandemic!